NO SIGNAL FROM NAUTILUS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20334, 5 September 1931, Page 15

NO SIGNAL FROM NAUTILUS.

. SIR HUBERT WILKINS STILL MISSING. RELIEF EXPEDITION PLANNED. (united press association—by electric TELEaRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) t (Received September 4th, 11.30 p.m.) l 3 OSLO, Septomber 4. He Norwegian Government is considering an expedition to the relief of b tho Nautilus. Captain Itiiser Larsen, s commanding the military seaplane base f at Bergen, says his aeroplanes are ready to rescue Sir Hubert Wilkins, but that i there is no reason to lose hope yet. Serious concern is being felt, nothing having been heard of the submarine for four days. The authorities have appealed to wireless amateurs to try and communicate with Sir Hubert Wilkins. SCIENTIFIC AIMS OF j EXPEDITION. IN SEARCH OF STAR DUST. 1 NEW YORK, September 3. Star dust on the bottom of the sea, ! among other scientific things, has drawn ; Sir Hubert Wilkins farther north than [■ any other man has ever sailed or steamed, and into greater danger. This is the opinion of Vilhjalm&r Stefansson, i the noted explorer. "Sir Hubert undoubtedly cannot much longer delay his return from the ice, because the summer season has virtually finished," Stefansson said. "When he started the chances were 1 four to one in his favour, but with the winter approaching the odds are reversecl. I think Sir Hubert is over-con-fident of the powers of his very efficient radio. In all likelihood he is safe at present.'' Stefansson emphasised the importance of Sir Hubert Wilkins's trip, explaining that in no other way could certain important scientific phenomena bo obtained. Star dust was the most romantic of these. "Scientists hold that dust from outer space in deposited in the polar regions in comparative purity,'' he said, "whereas elsewhere it is mixed with terrestrial dust. Obviously any samples from the bottom of the sea will bo of use, .. "Wilkins also seeks to weigh tho earth from the north, which is. the shortest radius to the centre of the globe. The earth has already been weighed from the Equator, where its radius is longest, and a comparison of the two weights will disclose important phenomena, among other things the mineral constitution of the earth. Also by the use of the sonic depth-finder Wilkins can mako an almost unbroken contour map of the bottom of the Arctic Ocean, can observe the water life as no other explorer could, and also can make important weather observations by taking water temperatures and otherwise fill in the innumerable gaps in Arctic information." Probably three years will be needed for the completion of the work of exploration, Stefansson said. j / 1111 ■■ s= •